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Page 3 Vol. 90 No. 7
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Decades of fun, memories at Twin Oaks Day Camp and their family member feel like they’re part of an even bigger “family.” Based in Freeport, the camp serves many other communities, For half a century, Twin Oaks Day Camp including Merrick, Bellmore, East Meadow, Wantagh, Seaford, Baldwin, Rockville Centre has been a summer haven for generations of and beyond. campers, who have created memoThe Elmans’ daughter, Jenni ries and friendships lasting a lifeElman-Davis, now runs Twin time. Oaks, alongside assistant directors As the camp marks its 50th Carin Stone and Michele Colella, anniversary this summer, its leadwho have both worked at the camp ers are reflecting on what makes for more than 25 years. Twin Oaks a special place, drawThe camp is split into four diviing families to return year after sions, with its youngest members JENNI year. taking part in the Barney ProTwin Oaks has been family ElMAN-DAVIS gram for children between the owned and operated since 1975, Director, although its history stretches back Twin Oaks Day Camp ages of 20 and 30 months. Each camper is paired with a one-oneven further. & Day School one supervisor, and they get to Hal Elman was a head counseltake part in a half-day program, or at the camp prior to 1975, and when the former owners were looking to sell filled with fun, adventure and socialization. The Lower Camp is for three and four year the property, Elman and his college friend, Bernie Hoffman, along with their wives, Bar- olds and the Upper Camp enrolls children in bara Elman and Beverly Hoffman, decided to kindergarten through third grade. Full day and mini day programs are available. The purchase it. Since then, the camp has flourished into camp’s activity directors create an engaging what it is today — a place where every camper Continued on page 20
By JoRDAN VAlloNE
jvallone@liherald.com
W
e’re a place that smiles.
Courtesy Randy Milteer/Village of Freeport
Budget passes without tax increase For the 12th consecutive year, Freeport residents will see no increase in their village taxes, as Mayor Robert Kennedy and the Board of Trustees approved an $85.4 million budget to go into effect March 1 that maintains the essential services that the village provides while keeping the tax levy flat. Above, Trustees Christopher Squeri, left, and Evette Sanchez, Mayor Robert Kennedy, and Deputy Mayor Ronald Ellerbe. See how on Page 3.
County, ICE partnership sparks concern in Freeport By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
Some Freeport neighborhoods are grappling with fear and uncertainty amid changes in federal immigration policy and Nassau County’s decision to allow county police to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. According to the National Immigration Law Center, on his first day in office, President Trump signed executive orders calling for, among other measures: ■ A recommitment to mass detention of undocumented
immigrants. ■ Potential punishment of municipalities that act as “sanctuaries” for them. ■ Au t h o r i z at i o n fo r l o c a l municipalities to act as immigration enforcement agents. This final point has caused alarm among many who wonder whether local governments such as the villages of Freeport, Hempstead and Westbury and area school districts might cooperate with ICE. County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed an agreement with the Trump administration on Feb. 4 that enabled him to
deputize Nassau County Police Department officers to carry out immigration enforcement in tandem with the federal agency. B l a k e m a n ’s p o l i c y h a s received bipartisan support. Newly minted U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen, a Democrat from Rockville Centre, issued a statement on Feb. 6, saying, “Violent criminals with no legal right to be here should be deported in accordance with the law. Nassau County detectives now being able to work directly with ICE agents on targeted enforcement against known noncitizen criminals will help keep Long Islanders safe.”
Janna Rodriguez, founder of the Innovative Daycare Corp. owner in Freeport, described the growing fear among some local families. “One of the concerns and issues that we’ve had within the child care sector is the fact that there may be children whose parents may be undocumented, or one parent’s undoc-
umented,” Rodriguez said, “and the terror of breaking up those families is where it lies.” Jasmine Peña, a Freeport resident, noted that local Hispanic businesses, particularly those on Main Street, have seen a downturn in profits. “A lot of their customers, where they’re, like, illegal immigrants, they Continued on page 10